Neoregelia plant named ‘green apples’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Neoregelia  plant named ‘Green Apples’, characterized by its upright and outwardly arching growth habit; leaves of vegetative plants are green and red purple bi-colored becoming red purple with development; and good interiorscape and landscape performance.

Botanical designation: Neoregelia macrosepala×Neoregelia carolinae.

Cultivar denomination: ‘GREEN APPLES’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofNeoregelia plant, botanically known as Neoregelia macrosepala×Neoregeliacarolinae and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Green Apples’.

The new Neoregelia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Princeton, Fla. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new Neoregelia plants with uniquelycolored leaves.

The new Neoregelia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in 2002 in Princeton, Fla. of an unnamed proprietary selectionof Neoregelia macrosepala, not patented, as the female, or seed, parentwith the Neoregelia carolinae ‘Meyendorffii’, not patented, as the male,or pollen, parent. The new Neoregelia plant was discovered and selectedby the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Princeton,Fla. in 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new Neoregelia plant by offsets in acontrolled environment in Princeton, Fla. since 2002, has shown that theunique features of this new Neoregelia plant are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Neoregelia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Green Apples’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Green Apples’ as a new and distinct cultivarof Neoregelia:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly arching growth habit.    -   2. Leaves of vegetative plants are green and red purple        bi-colored becoming red purple with development.    -   3. Good interiorscape and landscape performance.

Plants of the new Neoregelia differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Neoregelia have fewer whorls of leaves than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia are shorter and        broader than leaves of plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia are green and red        purple bi-colored whereas leaves of plants of the female parent        selection are green and pink bi-colored.    -   4. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia develop their        predominant red purple coloration earlier than leaves of plants        of the female parent selection develop their pink coloration.

Plants of the new Neoregelia differ from plants of the male parent,‘Meyendorffii’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Neoregelia are taller and broader than        plants of ‘Meyendorffii’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia develop their        predominant red purple coloration earlier than leaves of plants        of ‘Meyendorffii’.

Plants of the new Neoregelia can be compared to plants of the Neoregeliahybrida ‘Tangerine’, not patented. Plants of the new Neoregelia and‘Tangerine’ differ primarily in leaf color and leaf pattern.

Plants of the new Neoregelia can also be compared to plants of theNeoregelia ‘Green Apple’, not patented. Plants of the new Neoregelia and‘Green Apple’ differ primarily in leaf color as leaves of plants of thenew Neoregelia develop their predominant red purple coloration earlierthan leaves of plants of ‘Green Apple’. In addition, the leaf colorpatterns of plants of the new Neoregelia are different than leaf colorpatterns of plants of ‘Green Apple’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Neoregelia plant, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Neoregelia.

The photograph at the bottom of the first sheet is a side perspectiveview of a typical vegetative plant of ‘Green Apples’ grown in acontainer.

The photograph at the top of the first sheet is a top perspective viewof a typical vegetative plant of ‘Green Apples’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Green Apples’ grown in acontainer.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a top perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Green Apples’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in Princeton, Fla.during the spring under commercial practice in a polypropylene-coveredshade house with day temperatures ranging from 10° C. to 32° C., nighttemperatures ranging from 7° C. to 29° C. and light levels averaging3,200 foot-candles. Single plants used for the photographs anddescription were 18 months old. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Neoregelia macrosepala×Neoregelia    carolinae ‘Green Apples’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Neoregelia macrosepala, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Neoregelia carolinae            ‘Meyendorffii’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By offsets.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 30 days at 30° C. to            32° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 45 days at 30° C. to            32° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three to            four months at 30° C. to 32° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About three to            four months at 18° C. to 22° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; yellow to            tan in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Upright and outwardly arching            growth habit; rosette leaves are erect when young, becoming            outwardly arching with development; plants readily produce            uniform offsets; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height, vegetative plants.—About 27 cm.        -   Plant height, flowering plants.—About 16 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread, vegetative plants.—About 46 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread, flowering plants.—About 41 cm.        -   Internode length, vegetative and flowering plants.—About 3.5            mm.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette, spiral phyllotaxis; simple; sessile,            clasping.        -   Shape.—Oblong to broadly ensiform.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Serrate, spinose.        -   Length.—About 31 cm.        -   Width.—About 6.3 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; leathery.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, vegetative plants, upper surface:            Close to 146B; towards the apex, slightly tinted with close            to 60A. Developing leaves, vegetative plants, lower surface:            Close to 146B to 146C. Developed leaves, vegetative plants,            upper surface: Close to 146A tinted with close to 59B;            towards the apex, overlain with close to 60A; towards the            base, close to 145A to 145B; venation, close to 146A.            Developed leaves, vegetative plants, lower surface: Towards            the base, close to 146B; center and towards the apex, close            to 146C tinted with close to 60B to 60C; venation, close to            146C. Upper leaves, flowering plants, upper surface: Towards            the apex, close to 187B; centers, close to 59B; towards the            base, close to 157B to 157C; venation, close to 145A. Upper            leaves, flowering plants, lower surface: Towards the apex,            close to 187B; centers, close to 59B; towards the base,            close to 157B to 157C; longitudinal streaks, close to 146B;            venation, close to 146C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence form.—Terminal flat-topped compact corymb            located inside the leaf rosette; about 88 flowers develop            per inflorescence.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one to two            days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Inflorescence length.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4 cm.        -   Flower size.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to N88A.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Three in a single whorl. Shape:            Oblanceolate. Apex: Mucronate. Base: Truncate. Margin:            Entire. Length: About 2.8 cm. Width: About 4 mm. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close            to 83A. When opening, lower surface: Close to N88A. Fully            opened, upper surface: Towards the apex, close to 83A;            center, close to N88B; towards the base, close to NN155D.            Fully opened, lower surface: Towards the apex, close to            N88A; towards the base, close to NN155D.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: One. Shape:            Oblanceolate. Length: About 3.4 cm. Width: About 9 mm.            Texture: Membraneous. Color: Towards the apex, close to            146D; towards the base, close to N157D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Three in a single whorl. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.            Length: About 2.4 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper surface: Towards the apex, close to            146D; towards the base, close to 145D. Color, lower surface:            Towards the apex, close to 145A; towards the base, close to            157D.        -   Peduncles.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Typically erect.            Length: About 4.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 155A.        -   Pedicels.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Typically erect to            somewhat outward. Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About            2.5 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 155D.        -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: About six. Filament length:            About 1.2 cm. Filament color: Close to NN155D. Anther shape:            Lanceolate. Anther length: About 5 mm. Anther color: Close            to 158C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 155A.        -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About            3.2 cm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to            NN155B. Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style color: Close to            NN155C. Ovary color: Close to NN155C.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Neoregelia have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to about    37° C.-   Interior & garden performance: Plants of the new Neoregelia have    been observed to have good postproduction longevity under interior    conditions and to have good garden performance.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Neoregelia has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct Neoregelia plant named ‘Green Apples’ asillustrated and described.